WILMINGTON, DE - Ashland Specialty Ingredients, a commercial unit of Ashland Inc., will introduce Natrosol Performax hydroxyethylcellulose, a break-through paint thickening technology, at the ChinaCoat 2012 trade show in November.

Natrosol Performax comprises a range of hydroxyethylcellulose thickeners that delivers process flexibility and quality control to paint manufacturers. The patent-pending technology triggers rapid and complete dispersion in any water-based medium, even under low shear conditions. This allows manufacturers to add HEC in dry form at any point of the manufacturing process, eliminating extra process steps like the preparation of pre-slurries or dissolutions of HEC, saving operational costs. The end result is a faster, more efficient, less costly production process - and better paint quality.

In addition to delivering process benefits, Natrosol Performax thickeners enhance paint quality and preserve critical performance characteristics, such as efficient thickening, stability, color compatibility and sag resistance.

Natrosol Performax is part of the Ashland line of Natrosol™ hydroxyethylcellulose, HEC thickeners for waterborne architectural coatings.

For more information, visit www.ashland.com/natrosolperformax.